The condemned freight cars were placed upon skids and drawn to the desired position over soaped planks.  They were raised from the ground to give good under ventilation.  The north and east sides are filled or banked up with sand which came out of the well.  This keeps out the cold winds, and, in the case of the chicken-house car, allows the fowls a shaded shelter on hot summer days.

The chicken-house car was placed facing the southeast.  The western end has a large glazed sash placed on it, and two in the southern side.  One half the car was partitioned off for roosting quarters, while the other half serves as a laying and scratching house.  This farm keeps only a few chickens for family use.

The artesian well was started in October.  The well was, naturally, a necessity, but there was much to be considered in regard to the method of pumping.  Under ordinary circumstances a windmill would do, and is generally a good auxiliary; a ten-foot iron tower and a ten-foot fan wheel cost about fifty dollars, but our farm is not to be allowed to be a failure for lack of water in a dry season.  In case of drought (and every summer brings one of greater or less duration) water must be on hand, and as a drought usually is accompanied by windless weather, the windmill could not be depended upon.  An engine was obviously necessary.  Both gasoline and kerosene engines were closely investigated, with the result that a kerosene oil engine was decided upon. (The new style of heavy oil engine is better and cheaper to run.  Ed.) An advantage of the engine over a windmill is that it will furnish power for cutting wood, grinding grain, or lighting the buildings, a two and one half horsepower engine running twenty-five 16 c.p. lights easily.

The rye was turned under green in the spring to furnish humus, the greatest and only vital need of this particular spot of virgin soil.

Since that was written an excellent and cheap stump puller has been introduced, but the account of work is still typical.  Dynamiting is still the modern way to clear land as well as to break up a stiff subsoil or hardpan, so as to loosen the earth to let deep roots like trees or alfalfa go down and to secure drainage.

Primitive American man regarded trees as “lumber” instead of as timber and still destroys countless millions in valuable wood as he “clears the ground.”

After it is cleared, it is vital to keep it cleared of weeds, which worse garroters of crops than trees.  To do that we don’t need to bow to the Earth, nor to hammer her with a hand hoe.

“The Man with the Hoe” began to be a back number when Arkwright invented the ark or the mule or whatever he did invent.  The man with the wheel hoe is the man that is “It.”  A wheel hoe costs from $6 to $12, and will do the work of several men without breaking the heart or even the back of one of them.  It has as many attachments as a summer girl and is equally versatile.  It must be run between the rows as soon as the ground is dry after every rain, so as to slay the weeds before they are born.  If you don’t they will slay your profits, if not yourself.